The Block Club Chicago Podcast The Alderman's Office That Kicked A Block Club Reporter Out Of A Public Meeting
When 25th Ward officials announced the reopening of a controversial Pilsen bar at a public meeting last week, Francia Garcia Hernandez wasn’t allowed to hear what neighbors had to say about it.
That’s because Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez’s 25th Ward chief of staff kicked her out, a move media experts say may violate First Amendment rights that protect the press’ right to investigate and report the news.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Francia Garcia Hernandez
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Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.
We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.
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Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.